Apparatus for partially folding containers



Oct. 17, 1944'.

C. L. MARTIN APPARATUS FORP'ARTIALLY FOLDING CONTAINERS Filed June 12. 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fr @u%%az:

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' c. 1.. MARTIN APPARATUS FOR PARTIALLY FOLDINQ CON'I'AINERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 12, 1941 i 31.0mm 6% Patented Oct. 17, 1944 APPARATUS FOR PARTIALLY FOLDING CONTAINERS Clair L. Martin, Indianapolis, Ind., assignor to The American Paper Bottle Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 12, 1941, Serial No. 397,795

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to containerfabricating apparatus and particularly to apparatus of this generaltype which is adapted to closing or sealing instrumentality which is inserted into the interior of the container. In other words, the collapsible end closure is worked in a preliminary way by the patented mechanism, the several relatively foldable panels thereof being partially folded with respect to each other about the intermediate scored portions and these scored portions, which comprise hinges, being thus partially broken down so that the final folding operation, after charging of the container, is greatly facilitated. The container, upon which the partial end folding operation is performed, is of tubular type, preferably square in cross section and with its bottom completely formed, all container walls being likewise preferably coated both inside and outside with a leakproofing substance, for instance, paraflin. A container of this type is described in detail in Patent 2,047,891, granted July 14,1936, to

Henry T. Scott.

In the aforesaid patent to Bennett, the actual container end folding operation is effected by means of a stationary end folding device, containers being successively brought into position to be acted upon by said means with the aid of a conveyer of the intermittently operatin ype forward movement of the conveyer being halted at regular intervals for a suflicient length oftime to permit the partial folding mechanism to accomplish its intended functions, the entire series of conveyers being advanced with a step-bystep motion. Subsequently each container .is passed beneath stationary charging mechanism .and is charged while motionless, either being fully charged at one station or partially charged at each of two or more stations.

The present invention comprises an improved means for partially folding the foldable upper end closures of tubular paper containers, which has a number of features of advantage over the a continuous manner or from a conveyer which mechanism described and claimed in the Bennett patent, the improvements not relating so much to the details of the means for actually performing the partial folding operation as they do to the means for supporting the tubular container during the partial folding operation and to the means for bringing successive containers into position to be acted upon and thereafter removing them from such position.

It is, of course, essential that the empty paper container be firmly supported and very accurately positioned during the time that the end closure folding mechanism is in operation, as

otherwise faulty folding would occur and the container be rendered useless. It is likewise highly desirable in certain instances that the container be given uniform continuous transitory movement after having had its collapsible upper end partially folded, particularly where it is to be placed upon a charging mechanism which is in continuous movement. The container delivery mechanism of the present invention is so arranged that containers may be transferred from the point at which they are subjected to the partial folding mechanism to any other apparatus, such as charging apparatus, by means which causes movement of the conveyer along a predetermined pathway at a uniform or substantially uniform velocity, at least by a continuous as compared with a step-bystep movement.

Likewise an improved means is provided for placing containers in position to be acted upon by the partial folding mechanism, this means being designed and intended to receive containers either from a conveyer which functions in functions in an intermediate manner. Where the conveyer which advances containers toward the partial folding mechanism is of the continuously moving type, the novel and improved container transfer mechanism then functions to receive containers from one constantly operating conveyer, quickly transfer such container into position to be acted upon by the partial closing mechanism, clamp the stationary container effectively in such position during the partial closing operation, and to then deliver the same to a second continuously operating conveyor. Despite the fact that the container must remain stationary during the time that its end closure panels are being acted upon and partially folded, the conveyer for advancing containers to the partial folding mechanism may be operated continuously, and likewise the conveyer for removing containers from such mechanism, the arrangement being of very considerable practical advantage where the partial folding mechanism forms a portion only of a complete automatic container forming, charging and sealing machine. In the accompanying drawings, one form of the invention is illustrated by way of example. The various elements thereof and its mode of operation will be described in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the mechanism for partially folding containers, together with its associated container transferring and container clamping mechanisms;

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 2, a portion of the mechanism which would otherwise be seen in this view however having been omitted in order that the remainder might be seen upon a larger scale;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 shows in plan the essential elements of the means for moving successive containers into position to be acted upon by the partial folding mechanism, certain of the parts being shown in different positions by means of full and dotted lines;

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on line 'I-'! of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a paper container showing the container to be completely formed except for closing and sealing, containers like that in this view being successively presented to the partial folding mechanism now to be described.

It may be stated that the various details of the means for actually engaging and relatively folding the several panels of the container end closure form no part of the present invention and this mechanism may advantageously be of the type which is'fully disclosed in the Bennett patent previously referred to. Its various operating elements are housed within a casing indicated at l and those elements which directly contact with and partially fold the relatively foldable upper end panels of successive containers are generally indicated at H, these several elements being automatically elevated, lowered and manipulated to effect their partial folding operations in the manner set forth in the Bennett patent. A container which is positioned to be acted upon by the panel engaging and folding elements I I is indicated at A in Figures 1, 2, 3 and of the drawings, the upper end of the container directly underlying the folding elements II. This container includes a tubular body portion l2 (Figure 8) the lower end of which is closed, and a foldable top portion which is generally indicated by the numeral l3. This foldable top portion comprising a plurality of relatively foldable panels [4 each panel being hingedly connected to adjacent panels, or to the upper edges of the body panels as ments just mentioned will therefore rotate with shaft I6 and in the operationof the mechanism shaft [6 and the parts just mentioned will be rotated at uniform velocity.

The container in position A is shown to be resting upon a platform P which is carried from the frame member 23 by means of an adjustable screw bolt 24 which permits vertical adjustments in the position of this platform. Platform P is in line with a container advancing conveyer which is so arranged that containers being advanced toward the partial folding mechanism will move directly toward the shaft [6 or radially of the axis of the shaft. Container supporting bottom rails of the conveyer are indicated at 25 and one of the container advancing conveyer side chains (of which there are two) is indicated at 26, the secondconveyer chain not being illustrated. Chain 2 6 is provided with laterally projecting container engaging and pushing elements 21 and the container which is shown in position B in Figure 1 will be seen to be engaged by two such opposed pusher elements 21. The conveyer chains will, of course, be driven in such direction that a container in position B will be moved toward the shaft IE, but will be disengaged by the pusher elements 21 after it has been advanced to a position such as indicated at C in Figure 5, the conveyer chains 26 passing around drive sprockets such as indicated at 28 and the pusher elements 21 disengaging the container as they are moved circumferentially around these sprockets. The motion of the conveyer chains is preferably continuous and at uniform velocity, and by means of an endless chain 30 and a second sprocket 28 fixed on the sprocket shaft 3|, this shaft is operatively connected to shaft l6 previously referred to. The conveyer chains 26 will therefore be driven in synchronism with the partial folding mechanism and all other operating parts of the machine and power for operating all of such parts may either be applied to shaft H5 or to shaft 3|.

For transferring a container which has been positioned by the conveyer at the position indicated at C in Figure 5 to the position indicated at A, a reciprocating transfer device is employed. This device comprises an arm 35 disposed in a generally vertical direction, the lower end of this arm being rigidly secure to a sleeve 36 slidably mounted upon the horizontally disposed guide rod 37, the ends of which are mounted in the frame of the machine. Arm 35 carries at its upper end two V-shaped members indicated at 38 and 39 respectively, each of these members having two portions disposed at right angles to each other, the portion 39a of member 39 having spaced points 40 adapted to engage the rear panel of a container and the portion 39b of the member 39 being provided with spaced points 4| adapted to engage one side wall of a container, the V- shaped member 38 which underlies the member 39 is similarly formed save that each portion thereof is provided with one container engaging point only.

In the operation of this container advancing device it moves between the extreme positions indicated in full and dotted lines in Figure 5.

- From the position in which it is shown in dotted lines, it will be moved upwardly; as seen in this figure, on to the left, as seen in Figure 6, until the container engaging points previously referred to are in engagement with the rear and side panels of the container in position C. The arm is then bodily moved to the left (Figure and the container transferred from station C to station A, the base of the container having been forced against the fixed block or abutment 42 mounted upon frame member 43. The container advancing device is caused to maintain its position during the partial folding operation performed upon the container top and thus not only comprises a container advancing means but likewise a container holding or supporting means. In order that it may be moved through the path of movement just described and in timed relationship to the other operating parts of the mechanism, automatically operating actuating mechanism is provided. Sleeve 36, previously referred to, has a splined relationship with shaft 31 so as to rotate when this shaft is rotated, and the ends of shaft 31 are rotatably mounted in bearings 44 and 45 supported upon the frame of the machine.

Rigid with shaft 37 and at one end thereof is an arm 46 to the outer end of which is pivotally connected the end of a horizontally disposed rod 41. The free end of rod 41 is slidably supported in a bearing 48, and a coiled expansion spring 49, one end of which bears against bearing 48 and the opposite end against a collar or washer 50 fixed on rod 41, normally tends. to maintain arm 46 in the position in' which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 7, with the container engaging device swung outwardly to dotted line position and out of the path of movement of acontainer moving into position C. For swinging the container advancing device inwardly to container engaging position, means is provided forpositively moving rod 41 against the action of spring 49, this mechanism including the lever 52 supported at its mid-point upon a stationary the associated container advancing device lon-v gitudinally of shaft 31, a second cam operated lever 58 is provided, this lever being in the-form ofa bell crank having a relatively long arm 60a, and a relatively short arm 6012, the lever being mounted upon a fixed pivot'il. The free end of the shorter arm 68b of the bell crank carries a cam follower 52 adapted to be engaged by the cam surface of an external cam 63a fixed on shaft 3|. A tension spring 64, one end of which is, connected to arm 50a and the other end to a stationary-portion of the frame, maintains the cam follower 62 in contact with cam 63. The free end of arm 60a is bifurcated as seen most clearly in- Figure 6, carrying spaced blocks 65, which project into the annular groove 61 formed in the sliding sleeve 35; As lever 68 is caused to swing about its pivot ii, the blocks 66' will be moved axially of supporting shaft 31, and although following arcuate paths of movement, will remain within groove 51 of sleeve 35, thus causing sleeve 36 to move under the control of the bell crank lever 58 at all times, By the simple mechanism thus described, the container engaging and advancing device which includes the container engaging elements 38 and 39, is moved in'such manner as to successively advance containers placed in position C, to position A, and, after each container has had its upper end partially folded, will promptly disengage such container, move to the side and thence to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, thence to container engaging position, etc.

When in position A, the container is engaged by two additional instrumentalities just prior to the time when the partial folding mechanism becomes active, One of these comprises a clamping arm I0 mounted for-rocking movement in a vertical plane about a horizontal pivot H supported on the frame, the upper end 18a of this arm being designed and intended to engage the base of the container and to clamp this base rather firmly by pressing it against the fixed abutment block 42. The end 10a is shown in its container engaging and clamping position in full lines in Figure 2, and in inoperative position in dotted lines in the same figure, the arm when in inoperative position being out of the path of movement of a container advancing to position A. Arm I0 is drawn to 'container gripping position by a tension spring 10b, one end of which is connected to the arm 70 and the other end to the frame of the machine. It is positively moved to inoperative position by means of a slide 12 disposed radially of shaft 11, the inner end of slide 12 carryinga cam follower 13, which is in constant engagement with cam I8 previously referred to, and the outer end of slide 12 having a down-turned portion which carries the adjustable thrust screw 14, the outer end of which bears at all times against arm 18. Thus by the means described, the arm 10 will be rocked in timed relationship to the other operating parts of the mechanism. It ispreferred to have the arm spring operated in its container engaging direction so that the clamping force applied to each of a series of containers'will be the same and to eliminate the possibility that the container may be damaged by the applica-' tion of excessive clamping pressure.

Likewise, while at station A each successive container is subjected to the action of a member which functions to render it truly rectangular in cross section at the time that the partial folding operation is carried out. It will be appreciated that newly formed containers are sometimes, even frequently, not truly square as they approach the partial folding mechanism, paper fibers at the vertical edges or corner of the container body tending to resume their original shapes and thus tending to cause the container to assumethe shape of a rhombus in cross section. To eliminate this possibility, the container squaring arm 88 is provided, the, end surface a of which is adapted to be brought against the container corner at a point well toward the top of the container and to press thiscorner of.

the container laterally until the container is truly square in cross section, the arm moving for iristance from its inoperative position as shown infull lines in Figure 3 to its operative position,

indicated in dotted lines, and a container engaged thereby being rendered square as a step preliminary to thepartial folding operation.

The means for operating the arm 88 may conveniently comprise a slide 8| in a slideway 82 formed in a fixed plate 83. The outer end of the slide is provided with a toothed extension Ila -follower 88 and cam and the teeth formed on this extension, which together comprise a rack, are in mesh with the series of teeth formed upon the inner end of the container squaring arm 80. .Radial movement of the slide 8| therefore results in swinging movement of arm 80. The slide 8| is spring actuated in one direction i. e., in the direction in which it must be moved to actuate arm 80 on its operative stroke, a coiled compression spring being indicated at 85,-this spring being disposed in a slot or recess formed in slide 8| and its rigid with plate 83 and projecting into the spring slot, the inner end of the spring bearing against the end of the spring slot. The slide is positively actuated in the reverse direction 1. e. in the direction in which it is to move to retract arm 80, the positive actuating means including the cam |1 adjustably mounted upon a flange 90 which forms part of a hub member keyed to shaft I6. As shaft l6 rotates therefore, the arm 80 will be actuated in timed tainer truly square in cross section, to permit the partial closing operation to be accurately efvided between which, and the surface 80a of arm 80, the container is held.

After the completion of the partial closing mechanism the container in position A is released by all of the described holding devices and may be freely moved from position A, in the direction of the arrow D, along the curved trackway indicated generally at T, by members mounted upon the shaft l6 and which therefore operate in timed relationship to the various instrumentalities heretofore described. Pivotally mounted upon the outer ends of the arms 2| and 22 of hub 20, previously referred to, are container engaging and pushing elements 95 and 96 respectively and each of these arms is provided with an upwardly projecting cam follower. These followers being indicated at 95a and 98a respectively and both followers projecting into a single cam track 83a formed in the underside of plate 83. By reason of the interengagement of cam followers and cam track, the swinging pusher members 95 are caused .to swing about their pivotal connections to the arms 2| and 22 as the hub 20 rotates, to efliciently withdraw a container from position A and move it along trackway T to the point of discharge. In order that the outer end of each pusher member shall have full bearing against a container being advanced thereby, or until the time when the container is passed from the end of the conveyor onto another device, for instance a filler mechanism revolving at uniform velocity about a fixed axis. In any event a container in position A is engaged by one or the other of the pushers 95 or 96 immediately after it has been disengaged by the several holding and squaring instrumentalities previously described after the completion of the partial foldfected. Preferably a limiting abutment 9| is pro-- outer end resting against a fixed abutment 86 relationship and will render any distorted conbination, mechanism for moving a container into position to be acted upon by a folding device including a member mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of a fixed axis and for rocking movement about said axis, said mechanism including driving means for reciprocating said member along a predetermined path on its working stroke and rocking the same about said axis and withdrawing it along a different path, a stationary member to cooperate with said first mentioned member in clamping said container in position to be acted upon, and means for removing from such position a container which has been acted upon and released by said first member.

'2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a fixed abutment against which a container to be acted upon may be held and thus definitely positioned, a member supported for.

movement in a predetermined path for engaging a container, mechanism for operating said memberto cause it to advance the container toward and into contact with the said abutment, hold the container motionless while being acted upon, thereafter release the same, and finally to return said member to starting position along a different path, and means for further advancing the container after it is released by said member.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a fixed abutment against which a container to be acted upon may be held and thus definitely positioned, a member supported for movement in a predetermined path for engaging a container, mechanism for operating said member to cause it to advance the container from a. starting position toward, and into contact with, the said abutment, hold the container motionless while being acted upon, thereafter release the same, and finally to return said member to starting position along a different path, and means for withdrawing a container from contact with said abutment after it has been acted upon, and further advancing it in a different direction.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 in which a secondary container clamping device becomes active to clamp a container in position against said abutment, said device comprising a clamping arm, a resilient element urging the arm in container clamping direction, and means for positively moving the arm to release a clamped container.

CLAIR L. MARTIN. 

